Independent Geoff Shaw backs Denis Napthine to remain Premier

Josh Gordon and Richard Willingham

Balance of power independent Geoff Shaw is tentatively backing Denis Napthine to remain Premier - for now - but has put the government on notice he will not guaranteeing its legislative agenda.

The warning came as Dr Napthine insisted he was ''calling the shots'' and would not be beholden to Mr Shaw, who played a pivotal role in the demise of Ted Baillieu as premier and Ken Smith as speaker after declaring a lack of confidence in both men.

Confirmation that the Coalition will continue to narrowly command the numbers needed to rule will come as a relief to the government, which has been struggling to move beyond the chaos dogging Parliament.

But Mr Shaw warned he was adopting a ''week-by-week'' approach, saying he believed Dr Napthine was a reasonable Premier who was ''doing OK'' at the moment.

Advertisement

''I'll vote the way that I think that I should vote,'' he said. ''Week by week I'm an independent member of Parliament.''

The comments followed a decision by Mr Shaw on Tuesday to derail the government's weekly business program in Parliament, meaning its timetable for passing laws will not be met.

Mr Shaw revealed he had voted against the agenda because he had not been consulted by ministers on various bills before the Parliament and because he was unhappy with the legislation.

''There wasn't too much on the agenda that I was too happy with and also I didn't have ministers contact me directly with regards to what the bills actually were,'' he said.

But Dr Napthine said he would not meet with Mr Shaw to get his agreement on the government's business program in Parliament.

''He is an independent member of parliament and he makes his own decisions, we are not going to be beholden to Mr Shaw on any matters, we will get on with government and governing the state,'' Dr Napthine said.

Labor used question time to again hound Dr Napthine about whether he still held the confidence of Mr Shaw.

Despite speaking for several minutes, Dr Napthine did not directly answer the question, insisting he was delivering good government.

Dr Napthine and deputy Liberal leader Louise Asher both sought to clarify that Mr Shaw was not in control of the government on Wednesday and that it was still running the state.

''He is calling the shots on legislation, he is not calling the shots in government,'' Ms Asher told ABC Radio.

''Mr Shaw is free to vote whichever way he wishes to vote on the floor of the house.''

On morning radio Mr Smith reiterated that the reason he had resigned was due to Mr Shaw - a position that put him at odds with the Premier.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said the Premier was putting the internal problems of the Liberal Party ahead of Victorians.